Glitter Sandwich w/ Lunar Eclipse

HELLO!!!

For your viewing pleasure this weekend................. a glitter sandwich with Orly's Lunar Eclipse and Santee's Ribbon Sparkle.

I layered in this order:  base coat, Orly's Lunar Eclipse, Santee's Ribbon Sparkle glitter, OLE, SRS, top coat.  Super easy, super gorgeous.

Santee's M84 Ribbon Sparkle has holographic moon and small hex glitters in it.  I got it on eBay for super cheap.  Seven bottles of various glitters for $19. 

Orly's Lunar Eclipse is from the Cosmic Fx line from Fall 2010.  In case you don't already know, OLE is a combo of foil, duo-chrome and rock minerals.  I've had this polish for a long time now, and the formula is still very good.  I had forgotten how beautiful it is.  A must have!

Below is the inspiration for this mani. Fast forward to 1:02:




Such a beautiful scene isn't it?

I'm getting ahead of myself, I posted earlier this morning.  So click back one post to see a glitter from the Fergie line.

NOTW WNW Fergie New Years Kisses, NUP Sangria

How's every one's week going?  I've got two polishes to show you today.  First, is Wet N Wild's, New Year's Kisses from the Fergie line.  This is a clear based, silver, holographic bar glitter, with silver micro glitter and smaller blue bar glitter.  I did one coat with two coats of Jelly Pop top coat.

I probably should have layered this, but I really was craving something sheer.  My yellow tips are more apparent in photos than in real life.... I don't know why.  This was super pretty by itself.  Light, bright, and super sparkly in low light. It feels like a veil.  This mani took only five minutes and dried really fast. 

Wet N Wild's Fergie polishes are at Walgreens for $3.49 a bottle.  A few are dupes from the Spoiled line.  I only picked up two, New Years Kisses and their multi-colored star glitter.  Also the brushes on these are broad and flat, similar to the Spoiled line.

Next, was this weeks work mani. I wore for four days: Nina Ultra Pro's Sangria.  Sangria is a deep dark red shimmer, more appropriate for fall, but something possessed me to wear this to work.  I got lots of compliments on this one.  Unfortunatley, the pictures came out lighter, and a bit flat than in real life.  I want to re-shoot this color again.  Maybe in the fall I might have more time?

Nina Ultra Pro is at Sally's, I think, for $4.99 a bottle, but they have them on sale frequently for $3.49.  I don't think NUP gets enough attention.  I have about 5 bottles and they all have been very nice polishes.

That's it for now, thanks for stopping by!

Deborah Lippmann - Do ya Think I'm Sexy?

Hey there!

I've had this Lippmann glitter for months and I didn't know what to do with it... until now.  Do ya Think I'm Sexy is a clear polish with simple red hex glitter.  Below is one coat over Diana Manicure 1715, a chartreuse shimmer.

I thought it was so-so.  .............zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz  I know, I'm sorry....  I'm sure there's much better use for this wonderful, simple Lippmann glitter right?

Prorance Diana Manicure #1715

Hey polish maniacs! 

Today's post features a shimmery chartreuse from Diana Manicure, a Korean brand whose parent company is Prorance.  I don't know the official name of this color but it is numbered 1715.  Below is three coats.

I don't own very many colors in the yellow green family, so this turned out to be a good excercise in trying something new and loving it.  1715 is definitely a summer appropriate color.  Most shimmers I find, are easy to apply and this one follows suit.

This was a gift from Kumiko Mae, a fellow blogger, at Loving Sunshine, but I was able to find this on eBay, shipping from Seoul.

I did a post on Diana Manicure 1716 yesterday.  In case you missed it click here.

Happy viewing!  Please feel free to shamelessly promote your blog in the comments section below.

Prorance Diana Manicure #1716

Today I am so excited to show you a lovely gift sent to me from a fellow blogger, Kumiko Mae over at Loving Sunshine.  Kumiko is kind, upbeat and a generous person who blogs mainly about cosmetics and skin care.  Occasionally, she will write posts on book reviews, travel, and empowering women.  I have been most impressed by her posts on contouring makeup and false eyelashes.  As some of you know I've been having a crappy summer, but things are looking up, thanks to Kumiko and my newly repaired AC ($800 later, a couple of electrical components and 2 lbs of freon). 

Here's some of what Kumi sent me:

I've had a chance to wear Diana manicure 1716 (aqua) and the Jelly Pop top coat from Etude House.  I'm going to try to get to the other two later this week. 

The Jelly Top Coat is really nice, it makes my nails hard, shiny and dries fast.  I wore it plain and over Diana Manicure.  So far I like it.  I have yet to wear it over a glitter.  It's big 3 free too!

I can't tell if Diana Manicure has names for their colors. The label is written in Korean and the only thing I can decipher is 1716... So here it is two coats.

Gold shimmer.

1716 is a nice soft aqua with gold shimmer, so perfect for a hot summer.  It really sparkles in the bright sunshine.  The formula is really nice too, smooth and even, this was easy to apply. 

Thank you Kumi! 

Check out Loving Sunshine!  Kumi's always trying to cheer us up, "Think bright, and smile a lot." is how she ends her posts.  I'm might need an entire bottle of anitdepressants to meet Kumi's expectations, but I'll try without!  :D

Essence - Prismatic White

Hey there! 

Just the other day I walked into another manager's office and saw posted:

"Small minds talk about people.

Mediocre minds talk about events.

Great minds talk about ideas."

So has anyone been following Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise divorce?  I'm so disappointed in the swift divorce with very little details!  JK!  I was rooting for Katie Holmes and I think she pretty much won, thankfully.  Scientology is a cult.  Yes, sometimes I am small minded. I can't help it!

ANYWAYS, today I have another soft work mani to show you, Essence's Prismatic White.  This is two coats.

Prismatic White is very similar to Galaeletric except its not as sheer, and has a white base instead of purple.  There's a duochrome shimmer that flashes mostly blue and sometimes pink at a sharp angle.  Sheer but bright, feels good for a hot summer.

I haven't abandoned my glitters I just need a day off!  Plus my AC is out, and I don't want to even know how much its going to cost to fix or what the heck is wrong with it.  Anyone else having a crappy summer? 

Share in the comments section.

WOW - A Liebster

The Liebster Blog Award is given to upcoming bloggers who have less than 200 followers. The Meaning; Liebster is German and means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing and welcome.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that I was nominated for a Liebster Award from nevernakednails, recently. Nevernakednails blogs about nail polish, birchboxes, hair products and cosmetics. She’s quite sassy and has made me laugh out loud on many occasions. Sometimes her posts look like a dissertation but don’t let that intimidate you. There’s quite a lot of good information and entertaining banter buried in there. Her posts are easy to read and the prose flows like a pleasurable conversation. I love the fact that she uses the inside of her refrigerator as a backdrop for her nail photos!! She is truly a unique and lively blogger who is not afraid to say the unthinkable or what is on her mind. You must go for a visit.

Onward:

1. Each person must post 11 random facts about themselves.
2. Answer the questions the tagger has set for you plus create 11 questions for the people you've tagged to answer.
3. Choose 11 people and link them in your post.
4. Go to their page and tell them.
5. Remember, no tag backs.

11 questions asked by nevernakednails

1. What is your blog about, and why?

My blog is about nail polish and anything related to hand and nail care. I try as much as possible to only use cruelty free products. I originally decided to start my own blog as a personal journal, to keep me motivated to not gnaw my tips. Which I have been doing on and off since the second grade!

2. How old are you? This mostly applies to how old you feel.

I’m 36, and I feel 36. Tired but working, bored and distracted.

The effects of the rat race, daily grind, time and pressure, whatever you want to call it, starts to show at this age. “Do what you love, so you never have to work a day in your life.” Yeah, easier said than done.

There’s a flyer hanging at work that says:

At 3 years old we say, “Mom I love you.”
At 14 years old we say, “Mom, whatever.”
At 16 years old we say, “Mom is so annoying.”
At 18 years old we say, “I am leaving this house.”
At 21 years old we say, “Mom you were right.”
At 30 years old we say, “I want to go to mom’s house.”
At 50 years old we say, “I don’t want to lose my mom.”
At 70 years old we say, “I would give up everything to have my mom here.”

I fit right in.

3. Would you please tell me a short story of the last time you really, really had some absolute fun in your life?

This is a really, really hard question. Let’s define “fun”, first. From Wikidictionary: Fun is “enjoyment, amusement, or lighthearted pleasure”.

I would have to say just the other day I went to DSW shoe warehouse with hubby and tried on about 50 pairs of shoes. He tried on maybe 15. I smiled. I laughed. I was amused. I bought some cheap shoes and nail polish, it was a light-hearted experience.

4. Where are your favorite places to shop and what are your favorite brands of things to buy?

Favorite places to shop: Anywhere really, but lately, Marshalls, Williams and Sonoma, Anthropologie, Banana Republic, thrift stores, and garage sales. The messier the better, it is where you find some good deals. I like high end malls/boutiques too. High end boutiques have a purpose: to stay on top of what is new and find some possible game changers. When I’m shopping in a cheap place I tend to have more fun because it is lighthearted. Lower prices and non-commissioned sales people equals less pressure.

Favorite brands of things to buy:

If it’s not listed, I’m all over the place. But these are tried and true brands for me.

Shoes:                       Chie Mihara, Dansko, and Prada
Socks and Hoisery:   Hue and Wolford
Jeans:                        Seven for all Mankind
Work pants:              Banana Republic
Yoga pants:              Champion from Target
Underware:               Gap
Bras:                         Playtex
MakeUp:                  Laura Mercier, but I don’t wear make up very often.
Nail Polish:              China Glaze
Skin Care:                Bliss, Replenix, Cetaphil, Roc retinol.
Toothpaste:               Crest, stannous fluoride, people.
Toothbrush:              SoniCare
Knives:                     Wustof
China:                       Portmerion and Villeroy & Boch
Cookware:                LeCreuset and Cuisinart
Coffee maker:          Krups
Coffee:                     Douwe Egberts
Wine:                       French, cote du Rhone region
Cars:                        Volkswagen, or anything German.
Camera:                   Nikon, although I’m currently shooting with a Panasonic-Leica lens.

5. Do you have any crafty hobbies, or something you're just good at?

Crafty hobbies hmmmm…. I want to learn how to knit. I use to make jewelry, but sourcing for quality materials started to become really hard to find and expensive. I’ll tell the truth; I wasn’t very good at making jewelry. I’m pretty good at painting walls. Tip: Use Purdy brushes when cutting in.

6. What did you expect to be doing at this time, five years ago?

Five years ago, I was 31, and it was 2007. I had been married for one year. My state of mind was not future oriented. I was looking back at my twenties in regret. I thought about my failures, my shortcomings, and how I didn’t enjoy my twenties enough. I thought about trying to live day by day and enjoy the present. I hated my job but I always do my best and got a big promotion in August of 2007. I did not make plans, so I’m pretty much in the same place now as I was back then. Same job, same house, same car…. So far, my thirties have been about working towards retirement, personal growth, stability and coming to terms that my time and energy are limited.

7. If you use youtube, what types of videos do you watch the most?

Music videos, how to cosmetic and nail videos, raising backyard chicken videos, and sometimes funny cat videos.

8. What is the song(s) that you must play full blast, windows down, belting it out, don't nobody better get in your way, driving down the road?

Small things, by blink 182

9. Kids?

No, none and no thanks. Don’t try to convince me, I am 11 years past my reproductive prime. “Being lonely, no one to care for you when you are old, and no one to put flowers on your grave” is a poor and selfish reason to have children.

10. Best day ever?

Tomorrow, it holds so much potential.

11. Who taught you to do something you really like doing?

Michele from Lacquerized.com I’ve never met her and she doesn’t know me, but she’s a Dutch blogger who taught me how to paint my nails, and convinced me to go cruelty free. Monkey see, monkey do as nevernakednails would say. Michele has stopped posting and I really miss her and wonder where she is.

My 11 questions for you, the nominated.

What are you looking forward to this week/month?
What have the last few years taught you?
What would I find in your refrigerator right now?
Who do you like best, you mom or dad?
How many close friends do you have?
If you won $20 million in the lottery, what would you do with the money?
What was the last movie you went to see?
What is the last book you read?
Age and do you feel your age?
Children and or pets?
Why do you think people follow your blog?

Blogs with less than 200 followers and no tag backs! This was NOT easy.

http://hopelessshopaholic.blogspot.com/
http://romancedelalunatm.blogspot.com/
http://somethinsgottagive.blogspot.com/
http://topcoattales.blogspot.com/
http://m43photo.blogspot.com/
http://thepolishpaparazzi.blogspot.com/
http://divagirlstrikesagain.blogspot.com/
I could not come up with 11 bloggers without tagging back. So if you are reading this and want to join in please feel free! Post the questions you want to answer and provide a link in the comment section!

Essence - Galaelectric

Hey there ladies!

I was planning on layering this polish over a dark color, but I was in the mood for something light and sheer.  Sooooo, Galaelectric is what I reached for, a sheer base with strong blue shimmer duochrome that is mostly blue, but at a sharp angle, flashes pink.  Three will probably cover the nail line but liked it sheer so I stopped at two.  I love the name GALA-elecTRIC!

Once and a while this polish pops up on eBay.  Essence's "holografics" line was out last fall in limited amounts.  The formula was excellent, super smooth.  There something about shimmers that make them really smooth.  I hope they re-release this, because it is way awesome! 

Please comment and thanks for stopping by!

Color Club Sweet Pea

Hey guys!  Post number 100, amazing.  Today I have another work mani/swatch to show you.  Color Club's Sweet Pea from this Spring's Blossoming Collection.  This was the only color I got from the collection, because I don't really have another color like it.  I would describe it as a slightly dusty pastel purple-pink. 

I wore this for three days, and over that time I decided, I really don't like it.  I felt like an old lady wearing it and its kinda boring.  Pretty in the bottle, boring on my nails, go figure.  I got a few compliments at work though.  I guess it depends on your personal taste.

Formula on this is like other pastels, a bit chalky, and settles in every crevice.  I don't have noticeable ridges but this polish shows that I do.  I used two coats of base coat, three coats of polish and a thick coat of Seche Vite for a smooth and even finish. 

Sinful Colors - 314 Beautiful Girl

Another quickie swatch to show you, which is also this week's work mani.  Beautiful Girl by Sinful Colors, a warm, pastel pink.

This formula was a bit thin and watery.  Most nails I have three coats on, the middle finger has four coats.  It looks a little too orang-y to me in the photos, its more pink in real life.  Most pink nail polishes tend to be on the cool side, so if your looking for one with a touch of yellow in it, this is might suit you.  Beautiful Girl warms up my skin tone and makes me my hands look a bit more tan.

I've had this bottle for about 8 months and this is my first time wearing it.  Beautiful Girl is a core color, so this should be easy to find, at least in the US.  What is strange is that, I have picked this up several times when I'm browsing at Walgreens, and said to myself  "Hey look at this! Oh wait; Sheesh....., I already have this and I haven't worn it yet."  Something keeps drawing me to this color.  Anyhow, not too bad at $1.99 a bottle, sometimes on sale for 99 cents!

Happy Be-lated July 4th!

Hot as Hades here in the Mid-Atlantic! Hot, humid, stagnant = misery!  Hubby and I went to a BBQ, and sweated like pigs.  After about 2 hours outside I couldn't stand it anymore.  I went inside and fell asleep on the couch.  So rude of me, but I couldn't help it!  This weekend its suppose to by 104 degrees F. ....  Guess I'll be inside... praying we don't lose power like last weekend, when we suffered a "derecho".  No phone service for three days, no internet for two days, no electricity for 26 hours, and we are considered lucky. 

Anyways.... here's a photo of my nails while I was in my car.

This is two coats of China Glaze's (ChG) Ride the Waves, one coat of ChG's Love Marilyn and some Nabi stars.  I fished out two gold stars for the ring finger.  Super easy mani when you are in a hurry.

How was your Independence day?

Review: INM Out the Door Top Coat

I found out about INM’s Out the Door, after using their silver holographic top coat, called Northern Lights, which dries to touch in 45 seconds (so, the bottle claims, but I didn’t test this, but it dries fast).  I was impressed with Northern Lights so I started looking at what else INM manufactures.  Since then, Out the Door is one of my go-to top coats.  I am almost done with a second bottle, so I think I can do a fair review.

What I like:

·         Big 3 free.

·         Low odor.

·         Dries fast, 1-2 minutes to touch, 5 minutes go about your business.  (Light duty that is, don't go scrubbing pot and pans in the sink, you'll need to wait a least three hours for that).

·         Delivers high gloss shine.

·         Decent smudge fixer.

·         No shrinkage.

What I don’t like:

·         Not the best leveler, it’s not bad, there are just slightly better top coats for glitters.  (China Glaze Fast Forward top coat, and Seche Vite are better/smoother for glitters).

·         Halfway the formula gets a bit thick and the rim of the bottle gets a bit crusty.  I add thinner to it and then add fresh top coat to top off the bottle. The brush doesn’t seem to pick up much top coat once it is half empty.  I also take time to clean the rim so that the top goes back on nicely.

·         The label goes all the way around I have a hard time seeing how much polish I have and how far down the brush is going when I’m dipping into the bottle.

Cost and availability

·         About $5 a bottle, at Sally’s and CVS pharmacy. 

·         Out the Door is inexpensive and easy to find, at least where I am.  Big refill bottles are available too.  I think those are $10.  

When do I reach for Out the Door?

·         Especially, over any jelly polish, due to the advantage of no shrinkage.

·         Over any polish, except glitters and flakies.

·         Over any nail art.  (Apply via floating technique to prevent smudges.  Which means apply with a big dollop and try not to let the brush touch the nail/paint, just kind of pushing the large drop over the nail.) 

Overall, there is a lot to like about Out the Door.  The advantages far outweigh the disadvantages, and the disadvantages are not really that bad, they really trivial.  I highly recommend, without hesitation INM’s Out the Door.

This is a continuing segment of top coat reviews.  To start at the beginning (China Glaze's Fast Forward review), click here for this post. 

Coming up, I’ll review Revlon’s Quick Dry top coat.